U2 cancels Glastonbury after Bono hurt

May 26, 2010 — 8.35am

U2 postponed the North America leg of its tour and cancelled its Glastonbury appearance today as the group’s singer Bono was released from hospital after emergency back surgery.

He was told by doctors he would need at least eight weeks to recover. Bono, 50, whose real name is Paul Hewson, was treated in a Munich hospital after an injury sustained during tour preparation training, a statement on the band’s website said.

‘‘Our biggest and I believe best tour has been interrupted and we’re all devastated,’’ the Irish act’s manager Paul McGuinness said in the statement.

"Bono’s concerns about more than a million ticket buyers whose plans have been turned upside down, we all share, but the most important thing right now is that Bono make a full recovery. We’re working as fast as we can with Live Nation to reschedule these dates.’’

U2 has sold more than 150 million records. Its current 360-Degree tour made more than $311 million from 44 shows in 2009, making it the highest-grossing of the year, according to Billboard.com.

U2’s revenue exceeded the $222 million made by Madonna’s shows. Artists have been turning to live performances as revenue drops from CD sales.

The European leg of the tour planned later in the year remains in place at present.

Live Nation said the 16 dates from Salt Lake City on June 3 through to New Jersey’s Meadowlands Stadium on July 19 will be rescheduled for 2011.

The Glastonbury Festival website said the band had cancelled what was due to be its first appearance at the event in June, and Bono had called organiser Michael Eavis to break the news.